Bingo board with magnetic shutters



Dec. 12, 1961 E. H. E. ERTEL BINGO BOARD WITH MAGNETIC SHUTTERS Filed Dec. 19, 1958 FIG.6

INVENTOR 3,012,787 BINGO BOARD WITH MAGNETIC SHUITERS Edwin H. E. Ertel, 117 W. Keefe Ave., Milwaukee, Wis. Filed Dec. 19, 1958, Ser. No. 781,515 6 Claims. (Cl. 273135) This invention relates to an improvement in gaming cards or boards, as used in connection with playing such games as bingo, beano, and the like.

Gaming cards are well known in the art; however, a primary shortcoming of such gaming cards is a lack of positive closure means for the shutters thereof, which will oifer reliable service over long periods of time, while being of an inexpensive construction. As shown in the prior art, the shutters of gaming cards utilize friction as the sole means for keeping the shutters in a given position as so placed by the player; but, because of the necessity for inexpensive construction, the shutters become loose inside the card after sustained Wear and abuse. Such loose shutters mounted in the gaming card are easily moved by jarring or otherwise inadvertently, causing the player to lose his place in the progress of the game. This can be avoided by making a more durable card, but due to the necessary for inexpensive construction, other means are resorted to in this invention.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved gaming card which utilizes a more positive, inexpensive, and durable magnetic means for holding the shutters thereof in their desired position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a gaming card which utilizes magnetic attraction as the means to hold the shutters of the gaming card into place.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a gaming card constructed of a minimum number of component parts, utilizing a magnetic means for holding the shutters thereof in their desired position.

Other objects and novel features of this invention will become apparent in the following description in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a typical gaming card; and,

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the lower left-hand corner of the gaming card in FIGURE 1, with sections broken away to show the interior construction thereof.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation view, taken substantially along-33 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is the lower left-hand, broken-out plan view of a gaming card as shown in FIGURE 1, showing another embodiment of my invention; and,

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation view of FIGURE 4, taken substantially along 5--5.

FIGURE 6 shows an isometric view of the stamped form utilized in another embodiment of my invention; and in FIGURE 7, an isometric view is shown of a typical shutter utilized in this invention.

This invention embodies the use of magnetism in the construction of a gaming card, wherein a magnetic attraction between the edges of the shutters and the card per se holds the shutter in its placed position, thus eliminating the reliance upon friction to hold the shutter in position.

FIGURES 2 and 3 show a gaming card having a bottom sheet 2 in which numbers or other indicia are printed thereon. Adjacent to the bottom sheet 2, are a number of shutters 3, having suitable guide lugs 4, on the upper side thereof. Said shutters are constructed of transparent material, and have molded or otherwise secured to the edges thereof, metal strips, 5; said strips, 5, being either magnetic, or magnetizable, and may be in the shape of wire. Also adjacent to the bottom sheet 2,

- States PatentO? 3,012,787 Patented Dec. 12, 1961 are a plurality of guide strips 6, regularly disposed thereon in a substantially parallel fashion, limiting the movements of the shutters. Said metal guide strips 6, are either magnetic or magnetizable, insofar as is necessary to induce a magnetic attraction between the shutter strips 5, and the guide strips 6, and again may be in the shape of wire Disposed between the shutters 3, are guide members 7, which limit the movement of the shutters to a back-and-forth direction, and also assist in keeping the guide strips 6, in the desired position. Completing the card is a top sheet 8, secured to the bottom sheet 2. Said top sheet 8, has holes therein, which conform to the indicia printed on the bottom sheet 2, While the shutters, 3,. are thus movable therein by lug 4, and limited in movement by guide members 7 and guide strips 6. Thus, when a shutter 3, is opened the magnetic attraction of the trailing metal edge 5, with the guide strip 6, affords a positive holding means by the magnetic attraction therebetween.

- From the foregoing description it may be readily seen that the metal guide strips 6 and guide members 7, may be replaced by a middle plate 9, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. Said middle plate has oblong holes therein, of adequate size to allow the shutters to move in a backand-forth direction over the indicia. If such a middle plate is used, it is preferable, although not necessary, to use magnetic strips 5, and a magnetizable middle plate for reason of economy in construction.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, another embodiment of my invention is shown wherein the bottom sheet 2, guide strips, 6, and guide members 7, or middle plate 9, are replaced by a single stamped guide form 10, clearly shown in FIGURE -6. Stamped guide form 10, constructed preferably of a magnetizable metal, has similiar indicia printed thereon, and guide ridges 11, extending from the stamped guide form 10, in a substantially perpendicular direction, and so disposed to receive shutters 3 therein, and to limit the movement of said shutters 3, to a back-and-forth direction. Thus, the stamped guide fornrll), serves the same purpose as a bottom sheet 2, together with guide strips 6, and guide members 7, in FIGURES 2 and 3, as well as a substitute for a bottom sheet 2, and a middle plate, 9, in FIGURES 4 and 5. Secured to said stamped guide form 10 is a top sheet 8, with the shutters 3 disposed and slidable therebetween, completing the card. FIGURE 7 more clearly shows the construction of a typical shutter, 3, having metal edges 5, thereon, and a lug 4, extending outwardly therefrom. It may be seen that the metal edges 5, may be disposed along any, opposite, or all sides of the shutter, instead of just on the leading and trailing edges thereof. If such a shutter is used, obviously a corresponding closure means is utilized; and, if used in connection with a gaming board construction shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the guide strips 6, would have to be disposed substantially parallel and adjacent to the selected metal edges 5. Thus, it may be seen that if either the metal edges 5, are constructed of a magnetic material and the guide strips 6, are of a magnetizable material, or visa versa, there is a continuous magnetic attraction, or holding force, to keep the shutter in its desired position. Likewise, if a middle plate 9, or stamped guide form 10, is used, not all edges of the shutter 3, need to have magnetized strips, only so long as the shutter is held in place by magnetic attraction with the gaming board.

From the foregoing description, it may be readily seen that numerous variations of my invention may be devised, utilizing the principles stated herein. For example, such closure means are equally well adapted for use in pivotally movable shutters, as well as being adapted for use with other devices. I therefore do not wish to be limited to particular construction shown and described, except as limited by the following claims, in which I claim:

1. In a gaming card adapted for use in playing such games as bingo and the like, having the combination of a bottom sheet with a plurality of indicia printed thereon, individual shutters slidable over said indicia, a top sheet having holes therein corresponding to the position of said indicia, guiding means for said shutters between said top and bottom sheets, magnetic means for holding the shutters of said gaming cards in selected open and closed positions, including magnetized strips on the forward and rearward edges of said shutters, and magnetizable metal means for said shutters adjacent each of said positions so constructed to hold said shutters in their selected open and closed positions by magnetic attraction between the magnetized edges of said shutters and said magnetizable metal means.

2. In a gaming card adapted for use in playing such games as bingo and the like, having the combination of a bottom sheet with a plurality of indicia printed thereon, individual shutters slidable over said indicia between open and closed positions, a top sheet having holes therein corresponding to the position of said indicia, guiding means for said shutters between said top and bottom sheets, magnetizable guiding means disposed between said top sheet and said bottom sheet in a substantially parallel fashion and perpendicular to the movement of said shutters in a back-and-forth direction, said shutters including magnetized strips at the forward and rearward ends thereof substantially parallel to said magnetizable guiding means, said magnetized shutter strips holding said shutters in their selected open and closed position by magnetic attraction between one of said magnetized shutter strips and said magnetizable guiding means.

3. In a gaming card adapted for use in playing such games as bingo and the like, having the combination of a bottom sheet with a plurality of indicia printed thereon, individual shutters slidable over said indicia between selected open and closed positions, a top sheet having holes therein corresponding to the position of said indicia, guiding means for said shutters between said top and bottom sheets, magnetized guiding means disposed between said top sheet and said bottom sheet in a substantially parallel fashion and perpendicular to the movement of said shutters in a back-and-forth direction, said shutters having magnetizable strips thereon, substantially parallel to said magnetized guiding means, said magnetizable shutter edges holding said shutters in their selected open and closed positions by magnetic attraction between said magnetizable shutter edges and said magnetized guiding means.

4. A gaming card adapted for use in playing such games as bingo and the like, comprising a bottom sheet, indicia disposed thereon, a top sheet located above said indicia and secured to said bottom sheet and having holes therein corresponding to the position of said indicia, shutters having front and rear edges slidable over said indicia between selected open and closed positions, guiding means for said shutters, means for holding said shutters in the selected open and closed positions, which include magnetized strips disposed along the forward and rearward edges of said shutters, said guiding means including substantially parallel magnetizable metal means which cooperate with said magnetized strips on said shutter edges in the selected open and closed positions to cause magnetic attraction therebetween.

5. A gaming card adapted for use in playing such games as bingo and the like, comprising a bottom sheet, indicia disposed thereon, a top sheet located above said indicia and secured to said bottom sheet and having holes therein corresponding to the position of said indicia, guiding means for said shutters, means for holding said shutters in selected open and closed positions, which include magnetizable strips disposed along the front and rear edges of said shutters, said guiding means including substantially parallel magnetized metal means which cooperate with said magnetizable strips on said shutter edges to selectively cause magnetic attraction therebetween in said selected open and closed positions.

6. A gaming card adapted for use in playing such games as bingo and the like, comprising a bottom guide form, shutters having front and rear edges slidable on said guide form between open and closed positions, said guide form having a plurality of magnetizable metal guide ridges extending therefrom in a substantially parallel fashion to limit the movement of said shutters within said guide ridges between said positions, indicia disposed below said shutters, said shutters having magnetized strips disposed on said front and rear edges to selectively cooperate with said magnetizable guide ridges to hold said shutters in the selected open and closed positions, and a top sheet having holes therein corresponding to the position of said indicia.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,343,838 Newaleski June 1, 1920 1,461,633 Stanbury July 10, 1923 2,322,324 Spitzner June 22, 1943 2,330,951 Burnmeister Oct. 5, 1943 2,491,257 Fawkes Dec. 13, 1949 2,530,929 Wirfel Nov. 21, 1950 2,607,961 Allen Aug. 26, 1952 2,778,642 Moore Jan. 22, 1957 

